Liverpool’s prospects of reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-finals have improved, thanks to Brighton’s injury troubles.
The Reds travel to Brighton on Wednesday night, aiming to secure a spot in the next round while avoiding just their second defeat of the season. Brighton, under new manager Fabian Hurzeler, has had a strong start to the 2024-25 season, currently sitting sixth in the Premier League with four wins, four draws, and one loss from their first nine games.
However, Liverpool may have an advantage for this match, as Brighton could be missing up to eight players. Summer signing Yankuba Minteh (groin) and academy talent Jack Hinshelwood (muscle injury) may still be in contention following late fitness tests.
Even so, Brighton will be without key players, including Solly March (knee), Matt O’Riley (ankle), former Liverpool midfielder James Milner (thigh), Joao Pedro (ankle), and Adam Webster (thigh). Additionally, captain Lewis Dunk, who sustained a calf injury in the warm-up before the recent 2-2 draw with Wolves, has been ruled out for three weeks. Dunk, who was set to make his 250th Premier League appearance for Brighton, will remain sidelined until after the November international break, meaning he’ll miss both matches against Liverpool this week, including Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Anfield.
Dutch international Jan Paul van Hecke, who has only recently come back from his own injury, and Brazilian Igor Julio, who stepped in for Dunk over the weekend, are now Hurzeler’s only natural central defenders available for Brighton’s Carabao Cup tie on Wednesday, with Webster also currently out.
For Liverpool and manager Arne Slot, the injury situation is largely unchanged. Harvey Elliott (foot), Alisson Becker (hamstring), and Diogo Jota (abdominal) remain sidelined, while Federico Chiesa (fitness) and Conor Bradley (unspecified) are still questionable.
However, rotation is expected, with Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, and Wataru Endo all likely to get rare starts, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo are expected to return to the starting lineup.
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